ALLENDALE -- The calendar may read March, but it might as well be fall for the Grand Valley State football team.

Judging by the tone and intensity of Monday afternoon’s spring practice at the Laker Turf Building, Grand Valley State is looking to open 2011 in midseason form.

One minute, a coach would yell at the offensive line to pick up the tempo. The next, a cornerback would be chided for his pass coverage. During a brief break, players would gather at midfield and chant in unison "championship pride."

For the Lakers’ coaching staff, it was business as usual.

"They never take a day off, that’s for sure. But we need it," linebacker Zach Breen said. "That’s the way it’s done around here. It’s not like anywhere else. We go 100 percent every day."

Grand Valley State held its fourth spring practice in full pads, but it already was clear the program plans to avoid ending next season the same way it ended 2010.

The Lakers remain acutely aware of their 38-6 loss to Augustana (S.D.) College in the second round of the Division II playoffs. After 10 consecutive postseason appearances -- including four national championships -- Grand Valley State’s players have grown accustomed to more.

"We think about it a lot. The coaches remind us about it every day," receiver Greg Gay said. "But they don’t have to remind us, it’s always in the back of our head."

Breen said he continues to wear that loss as a little extra chip on his shoulder.

"It’s always in the back of my mind," Breen said. "Every time we put the pads on I say, 'All right, let’s get better today,' because that’s in the back of my mind. We didn’t end the way we wanted to."

Second-year coach Matt Mitchell knows the last time his team stepped on the field was Nov. 27. That’s why he is working so hard to ensure that this year’s squad makes it deep into December.

And if that includes turning up the heat in spring practice, especially for those who are new to the program, so be it. That’s the way it’s been at Grand Valley State for the past eight or nine years and he’s going to stay true to that, Mitchell said.

"I think that’s really critical for this group. They have to understand how we do things, and just because it’s spring ball we’re not going to do it one way and then turn it up in fall camp," Mitchell said. "This is how we practice at Grand Valley. This is how we do everything."

Mitchell believes Grand Valley State has the potential to have another strong season.

Between now and the April 16 spring game at Lubbers Stadium, he wants to develop more cohesion within the offensive and defensive units and sort out the four-player "tumbler" he has at quarterback.

All of that needs to be determined before the Lakers can start to think about their Sept. 1 opener against Western Oregon.

"Right now it’s not about anybody else, but us," Mitchell said. "I know that’s a big cliche, but really we’re just trying to work on the fundamentals, what are the things that we have to be good at in order to have success. That’s what we’re trying to focus on."

That’s fine with Gay. His goals remain the same: another Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title and another deep postseason run -- and the sooner that can happen, the better.

Anything to get rid of the bad taste in his mouth that still lingers from the Augustana loss.